The NCAA approves new rule changes for the 2023 season

Penn State football fans can expect some changes to the game this season as the NCAA has approved new rule changes that were proposed earlier this year. The most significant change is that the clock now runs after first downs are achieved in all divisions except Division III, and the clock continues to stop after first downs in the final two minutes of each half.

According to rules committee secretary-editor Steve Shaw, this change is expected to reduce the number of plays by an average of seven per game. Stopping the clock after first downs has been the rule that has separated college football from the NFL since 1968, but new rule changes will bring the game more in line with professional football. Unfortunately, the 2 minute warning has yet to be mentioned, which makes rushing in college (from a time perspective) actually more difficult than the NFL.

The Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) annually reviews the rule changes as proposed by the NCAA Football Rules Committee, which issued a recommendation in March. While Divisions I and II will implement the new clock rule, Division III has deferred and announced attached (separate) rules of the game for that division.

In addition to the clock rule change, PROP has accepted two other recommendations of the Rules Committee. First, teams are now not allowed to call back-to-back timeouts. This change removes the ability for coaches to artificially stop the clock to gain an advantage late in the game.

Second, penalties at the end of the first and third quarters are now enforced on the first play of the next quarter. This change helps to streamline the game and avoid unnecessary lag.

In the betting world, there can be significant consequences as over/unders can be significantly reduced. Losing an average of 7 plays in a single game, along with not being able to execute rushing offenses as effectively, is a very interesting dynamic during the season.

While it may take some time for players, coaches and fans to get used to these changes, they are expected to improve the overall flow of the game and improve player safety. With the NCAA and PROP constantly revising and refining the rules of college football, the future of the sport looks bright and exciting.